SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 5 — In a last-ditch effort to rouse opponents of the California recall, Gov. Gray Davis on Sunday turned to one of his most consistent sources of support during three decades of public life, organized labor, and implored workers to turn out in droves on Tuesday to save his governorship.þþ þIn a highly partisan speech frequently interrupted by cheers of approval, Mr. Davis told several hundred union members that the election hung in the balance. He warned of hard times for working people if he was removed from office and the actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, became governor.þþÿSomebody in this state has got to stand up to George Bush,ÿ Mr. Davis said. ÿWe have a big moment in front of us. It will shape the future of this state for a long time to come.ÿþþIn a rare reference to other candidates vying for his job, Mr. Davis singled out three for praise: Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante, a Democrat; the Green Party candidate, Peter Camejo; and Arianna Huffington, the independent who dropped out of the race last week. But he warned that none of them had a chance against Mr. Schwarzenegger.þþÿLet's face it,ÿ Mr. Davis said. ÿThis race has boiled down to a two-person race. Either you are going to vote no on the recall, and retain the governor you elected last November, or you are going to get Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor and I don't think you want to go down that road.ÿþþÿNo! No! No!ÿ came shouts from the audience, one of the liveliest to greet Mr. Davis on a three-day statewide plane tour leading up to the recall election on Tuesday.þþMr. Davis made a brief reference to recent accusations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Schwarzenegger, but largely allowed other speakers to take up the Democratic drumbeat on that issue. Speaking to reporters before entering the union hall for the South Bay A.F.L.-C.I.O. Labor Council, Mr. Davis suggested that the accusations raised questions about Mr. Schwarzenegger's ability to govern.þþÿMr. Schwarzenegger needs to address these charges in detail, not in evasive language and partial denials,ÿ he said. ÿCalifornians should be left with one question: are all these women and their families lying or is Mr. Schwarzenegger not telling the truth?ÿþþThe Davis camp will begin broadcasting a new television commercial on Monday that features Senator Dianne Feinstein. The commercial does not accuse Mr. Schwarzenegger of any wrongdoing or even mention the nature of the claims against him. But it suggests they are serious.þþÿThis recall is turning around,ÿ Mrs. Feinstein says in the advertisement. ÿPeople are beginning to see how unfair it is, and how harmful it is to California's economy and to our people. And in recent days serious allegations have surfaced with respect to the governor's opponent. We should all give this serious consideration. This governor was fairly elected — he does not deserve to be recalled.ÿþþMr. Davis was joined at the rally here by a large number of Democratic officials, including State Attorney General Bill Lockyer. Speaking with reporters, Mr. Lockyer called upon Mr. Schwarzenegger to voluntarily submit to an investigation of the sexual misconduct accusations, particularly those published in the past few days in The Los Angeles Times. The newspaper wrote about 15 women who had claimed that Mr. Schwarzenegger groped them or sexually humiliated them.þþMr. Lockyer said it would be difficult to conduct an investigation without the actor's cooperation because none of the accusers had filed charges and the statute of limitations would apply.þþÿThis time of year, sometimes everything goes through the lens of what's political,ÿ Mr. Lockyer said, ÿand those that want to believe their candidate is virtuous tend to just disbelieve any charges, but there are too many of them. And it just seems to me somebody ought to do an adequate investigation.ÿ þþMr. Lockyer is a Democrat who has described himself as a friend of Mr. Schwarzenegger's and who in past elections has criticized Mr. Davis's campaign tactics. Mr. Lockyer said his office had spent more than $1 million investigating claims against the Davis administration in the last five years, with no criminal charges resulting.þþIn keeping with the day's theme of working people, Mr. Davis appeared on Sunday morning at a bill-signing ceremony for legislation, which was strongly supported by organized labor, requiring employers to help provide health care coverage to about one million California workers who are currently uninsured. þþThe Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke before Mr. Davis, criticizing the recall. ÿWe had an election last year,ÿ Mr. Jackson said. ÿTo elect a governor every four years is enough.ÿþþþþ
Source: NY Times
